Mail-bag



(No Model.)

J. 0. JENKINS.

MAIL BAG.

No. 515,229. Patented Feb. 20, 1894.

wit 14420000 THE NAYIONAL LITHOGRAPHIND COMPANY.

WASHINGTON, n. e.

UNtrsn STATES PATENT JOHN C. JENKINS, or HOMOSASSA, FLORIDA.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,229, dated February 20, 1894.

Application filed May 17, 1893. Serial No. 474,526. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. JENKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Homosassa, in the county of Citrus and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,su ch as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

\ This invention relates to mail bags.

The object of theinvention is to produce a mail bag of such construction that the mouth thereof may be quickly opened and closed by a single movement, thus obviating the great loss of time which generally ensues in the use of mail bags as ordinarily constructed, when the fastening strap has to be passed through a number of eyes and then fastened; furthermore, the object of the invention is to produce a mailbag which can be quickly and easily opened and closed, and which, by its construction facilitates the catching of the bag by hooks or projections of the kind ordinarily employed on mail cars when it is desired to pick up mail bags at stations where mail trains do not stop.

With these objects in View, the invention consists essentially of a mail bag having attached thereto a rigid bar or plate, a chain or strap attached to the bag around its mouth, auda staple or other fastening on the bar or plate, whereby the chain or strap is retained in place, after being drawn to close the mouth of the bag.

The invention furthermore, consists of a mail bag, comprising a stiff bar or plate attached to the bag, a chain or strap attached around the mouth of the bag, and having its ends passed through an opening in the plate or bar, and a staple or other fastening device attached to the plate or bar, whereby the chain or strap is fastened in place, after being drawn to close the mouth of the bag, and, furthermore, the invention consists of a mail bag, having a stiff plate orbar attached thereto, the plate or bar being provided at its upper end with a ring, and being also provided with an opening and a staple or other fastening device, and a chain or strap attached around the mouth of the bag, and

passing through the opening in the plate or bar.

WVith mail bags as ordinarily constructed, great difficulty is experienced when it is found necessary to hastily close the mouth, after depositing mail in the bag. The difficulty arises principally from the fact that it is necessary, first, to fold over a flap at the mouth of the bag,pass through openings in this flap a series of staples, and then pass through these staples a strap or chain, the end of which is fastened with a lock. The manipulation of the parts occupies considerable time, and the fastening is no more secure than it would be were the mouth of the bag tightly closed, and bound in place by a suitable strap or chain.

The general idea involved in my construction is that of gathering together the mouth of a mail bag, without folding or otherwise manipulating it, and fastening it after the mail has been deposited in the bag.

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail bag, made in accordance with my invention, the mouth of the bag being shown open, ready to receive mail. Fig. 2-- is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the upper end of a mail bag, made in accordance with my improvement, the same being shown in a closed and locked position, and Fig. 3- is a sectional view,showing the relative arrangement of the stiff bar or plate, to be fastened in the side of a bag, and the locking chain used to close the mouth of the bag.

In these drawings, A represents the body of a mail bag, the upper end of which is open, forming a mouth through which the mail is to be introduced into the bag.

Attached to the mouth of the bag, and in such a way as to surround the same, is placed a chain or strap B. In the present illustration I have shown a chain passed through, showing openings a, formed near the upper edge of the bag, through which the chain is passed. The chain passes around the mouth of the bag, alternately upon the inner and outer faces thereof.

0 represents a bar or plate which is firmly attached to the bag. The upper end of this plate is provided with an opening 0, through which the chain a, or a strap, rope or the like, after inclosing the neck of the bag, passes. The chain or the like is provided with aplate 6, having an openingin its upper end through which the same is allowed to pass freely, and the plate is also provided with an opening 19 for use in fastening the chain, after the mouth of the bag is closed. The plate or bar 0 is provided with a staple ciwhichpasses through the opening 1) in the plate b, and the parts are retained in this position by a lock D. The extreme upper end of the plate 0 is provided with a projection through which passes a ring E, which affords convenient means of engagement for the projecting portion of a mail bag catcher on a car.-

From the foregoing description it will be clear that When a bag is constructed in accordance with my invention, the opening and closing thereof can be effected readily and securely. When mail matter has been deposited in the bag the chain is drawn through the opening in the upper end of the plate 0, and the plate I) placed in engagement with the staple 0 on the plate where it is fastened in place. The act of drawing the chain through the opening in the plate gathers the upper portion of the bag close together, and the chain or strap used is of such length, that when it is secured to the staple c the mouth is so tightly closed that the introduction or extraction of articles is impossible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimas new, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is

1-. A mail-bag having attached thereto adjacent to the mouth,a rigid bar or plate, a chain or strap encircling the 'bag at or near the mouth lying along the plate or bar and means for attaching the chain or strap to the plate or bar, whereby, when the mouth is closed by the chain or strap, and the chain or strap is attached to the plate or bar, a secure fastening is effected, substantially as described.

2. A mail-bag comprising a rigid bar or plate, immovably attached to the bag and extending along the same to impart stiffness thereto,a chain or strap encircling the bag at or near the top thereof, the bar or plate being provided with an opening for the reception of the chain or strap and with a staple or other fastening device whereby the chain or strap is attached to the plate or bar, substantially as described.

3. A mail bag comprising a rigid plate or bar, immovably attached thereto and extending longitudinally along one side thereof,"the plate or bar being provided with an opening and with a staple or other fastening device,a chain or strap encircling the bag at or near its mouth, passing through the openinginthe plate or bar and attached to the staple or the like, and a lock for retaining the chain or strap in attachment with the staple, substantially as described.

4. A mail bag provided with a rigid plate or bar, attached immovably to the bag and extending longitudinally along the side of the same for the purpose set forth, the plate or bar being provided with an engaging ring, and also with an opening and with a staple or other fastening device, a chain or strap extending around the bag at or near the mouth thereof, the chain or strap passing through the opening in the plate or bar and adapted to be attached to the staple or other fastening device, substantially as described.

5. A mail bag having a rigid plate or bar extending along the side thereof and immovably attached thereto, to impart stiffness to the bag, the plate or bar having at its upper end, adjacent to the mouth of the bag, an opening for the passage of the chain or strap encirclingthe bag at or near its mouth, and at its lower end means for attaching the chain or strap to the plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. JENKINS. Witnesses:

J. P. WALLACE, H. W. THOMAS. 

